Statement of Faith
1. Scriptures:
We believe that the original writings of Scriptures, both the Old and New Testaments, to be without error and are the very words of God. They are inspired equally in all parts and are the complete revelation of His will for the salvation of men and the divine and final authority for Christian faith and life. (2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21)
2. God:
God is one, the Creator of all things, infinitely perfect and eternally existing in three persons,
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. (Genesis 1:1; Matthew 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14)
3. Jesus Christ:
Jesus Christ is true God and true man, having been conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He died on the cross as a sacrifice for our sins according to the Scriptures. Further, He rose bodily from the dead, ascended into Heaven, where at the right hand of the Majesty on high, He now is our High Priest and Advocate. (John 1:1-3, 14, 18; Colossians 1:13-18; Hebrews 1:1-3; 1 Cor. 15:3)
4. Holy Spirit:
The ministry of the Holy Spirit is to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ, and during this age to convict men, regenerate the believing sinner, indwell, guide, instruct and empower the believer for godly living and service. (John 16:8-14; Romans 8:9-11; 1 Corinthians 6:19; Ephesians 1:13-14)
5. Angels:
Angels are spiritual beings who were created as sinless personalities who occupied different orders and ranks. They presently exist in fallen and unfallen states, the former being Satan and his angels. Satan is the originator of sin and by his own choice became the enemy of God and His people. Although he now rules as the god of this world, he was judged at the cross and will ultimately be cast into the Lake of Fire. (Genesis 3:1-19; Isaiah 14:12-14; Hebrews 1:13-14; 2:14; 2 Peter 2:4; Revelation 7:11-12; 20:10)
6. Man:
Man was created innocent and in the image of God but he sinned bringing both physical and spiritual death to himself and his posterity. Man has inherited a sinful nature, which alienates him from God. He is in need of salvation and is unable to save himself.
(Genesis 1:26-27; 2:17; Jeremiah 17:9; Romans 3:9-19; 5:12; Ephesians 2:1-3)
7. Atonement:
The shed blood of Jesus Christ and His resurrection provide, the only grounds for justification and salvation for all who believe. Only such as receive Jesus Christ as the required righteous substitutionary sacrifice, are born of the Holy Spirit and thus become children of God. All regenerate believers, once saved, are kept secure in Christ forever. (John 3:3-7; 10:27-30; Romans 3:21-26; 8:1,38-39; Ephesians 2:8-10; Hebrews 9:11-15)
8. Ordinances:
Christ instituted the ordinances of water baptism and the Lord’s Supper, which are to be observed by believers until He returns. (Matthew 28:19-20; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26)
9. Return of Christ:
The personal, bodily return of our Lord Jesus Christ is imminent and this blessed hope has a vital bearing on the personal life and service of the believer. (Daniel 9:24-27; Matthew 25:30-31; 1 Thessalonians 4:14-18; 2 Peter 3:10-13)
10. Resurrection Of The Dead:
The resurrection of the dead is a real bodily experience. The believer shall be resurrected to everlasting blessedness and joy with the Lord. The unbeliever shall be resurrected to judgment and everlasting conscious punishment. (Daniel 12:2; Matthew 25:46; John 14:1-6; 1 Corinthians 15:50-58)
11. Marriage and Sexuality:
Marriage is a union sanctioned by God, which joins one man and one woman in a single, exclusive union, as delineated in Scripture. Grace Bible Church believes that God intends sexual intimacy to occur only between a man and a woman who are married to each other. We believe that God has commanded that no intimate sexual activity be engaged in outside of a marriage between a man and a woman, and that any other such activity is sin.
Grace Bible Church believes that any form of sexual immorality, such as adultery, fornication, homosexuality, bisexual conduct, bestiality, incest, pornography or any attempt to change one’s sex, or disagreement with one’s biological sex, is sinful and offensive to God.
Grace Bible Church believes that in order to preserve the function and integrity of the Church as a local body of Christ, and to provide a biblical role model to the Church members and the community, it is imperative that all employees of Grace Bible Church and its members abide by and agree to this Statement on Marriage and Sexuality and conduct themselves accordingly.
The Church believes that God offers redemption and restoration to all who confess and forsake their sin, seeking His mercy and forgiveness through Jesus Christ. (Genesis 1:27 Gen. 2:24; I Cor. 6:9-11; 1 Thess. 4:1-18; Hebrews 13:4)
12. Institutions:
God has created and ordained authority consisting of three basic institutions: 1) the home; 2) the Church; and 3) the state. Every person is subject to these authorities, but all (including the authorities themselves) are answerable to God and governed by His Word. God has given each institution specific Biblical responsibilities and balanced those responsibilities with the understanding that no institution has the right to infringe upon the other. The home, the Church, and the state are equal and sovereign in their respective Biblically assigned spheres of responsibility under God. (Rom. 13:1-7; Eph. 5:22-24; Heb. 13:17; I Pet. 2:13-14)